Best Subway Tuna Salad Sandwich

This Best Subway Tuna Salad Sandwich copycat recipe shows you how to make a classic tuna salad recipe with a list of all possible Subway toppings!

Subway Tuna Sandwich

As far back as I can remember I have been enjoying my classic tuna salad sandwiches. When I was younger my mother made my sister and I sandwiches with only tuna and mayo.

I loved it.

It wasn't until much later on that we started adding all kinds of good things to our tuna salad and still do to this very day.

Now, tuna just doesn't taste the same without all of the "stuff" in it to me!

I remember going on vacation in the United Stated when I was young. We walked into this small sandwich shop called Subway and I ordered my first footlong tuna salad Subway sandwich.

It was love at first bite for me.

We all ordered our own tuna submarine sandwich.

I remember being able to save half for later and loving every bite.

Oddly enough, I still remember how impressed I was, seeing all of the tuna sandwich toppings that Subway had to choose from.

I already decided how I was going to order my next tuna salad sandwich!

Of course, I realized later on that all of the toppings weren't just for the tuna salad but to this day I have to add "stuff" and "things" to my tuna salad sandwich!

I just can't eat tuna without extras all because of my early visit to Subway.

Especially if I am ordering a Subway tuna salad footlong. I tend to go a little crazy with some of the toppings.

I'll explain my craziness a little later on in this post.

Subway Tuna Recipe

A classic tuna sub from Subway is so easy to create in your own home. All you will need is tuna and mayo.

That is all you need for this classic tuna salad recipe.

Subway uses a brand specific, customized, eggless mayo with mint in all of their stores. Their mayo is not available for purchase by consumers.

Other than not being able to access the specific mayo that Subway uses, Subway's tuna salad recipe is very simple to reproduce.

Some locations will include a teaspoon or so of lemon juice to reduce the fishy taste and smell.

I usually add lemon juice to my personal version of Subway's tuna salad recipe.

The truth is, the Subway tuna salad recipe only requires tuna and mayo.

I prefer to include more options in my tuna salad recipe itself. And whenever possible, I blend the ingredients together.

You always have the option of placing all of your extra ingredients underneath and on top of your tuna salad, just like you were visiting Subway.

Regardless, all you need to do is combine all of your ingredients for your Subway tuna sandwich into a bowl, mix well and refrigerate until needed.

I always try and refrigerate my tuna salad for at least an hour before serving. The longer the better.

In my opinion a few hours is best but that isn't always an option.

How You Make a Subway Tuna Salad Sandwich

This is exactly how Subway makes their tuna salad sandwich.

Make sure you have a submarine, footlong, hoagie bun, sliced in half lengthwise or bread of your choice.

If you're adding the works to your tuna salad sandwich place approximately ½ cup of shredded lettuce on the bottom of your bun.

Next, add a few tomato slices, topped with two or three purple or red onion rings.

Cover onion with a few pickle slices.

Add the three scoops of tuna on top of the pickles, sprinkle with salt and pepper and place two slices of cheese on top.

Finish your tuna salad sandwich off with the top of your bun or roll or slice of bread.

That is it. Exactly how Subway makes their footlong tuna salad sandwich.

Don't forget about all of the other Subway toppings you can add as well like sweet peppers, sliced olives, sliced jalapenos, cucumbers and so much more.

I LOVE options! Don't you?

Subway Tuna Sandwich Toppings

Just in case you're wondering, or trying to remember all of the toppings that Subway has to offer for your tuna salad sandwich, I have included a list.

Most Subway stores carry all of the ingredients listed below.

Hope you find it as handy as I do! You will need this list to make this Subway tuna salad recipe precisely like Subway does!

Subway Toppings Cheeses:

• Cheddar
• Monterey Cheddar
• Parmesan
• Processed Cheddar
• Swiss

At Some Locations:

• Feta
• Mozzarella
• Monterey Jack

They Offer:

• Baby spinach
• Banana peppers
• Black olives
• Cucumbers
• Green peppers
• Lettuce
• Pickle chips
• Red onions
• Tomatoes

At Some Locations:

• Avocado
• Guacamole
• Jalapeños

Seasonings for Tuna Salad

• Grated Parmesan
• Cheese
• Oregano
• Pepper
• Salt

Subway Tuna

For the record or just in case you were wondering, I looked at which kind or kinds of tuna Subway uses to make their tuna salad recipe. This is what I found out.

According to Subway, they only sell skipjack and yellowfin tuna packed in water. It is sourced from fisheries with non-threatened stock levels.

And there you have it.

Subway Classic Tuna Salad Recipe

Now that you know exactly how to make a Subway classic tuna salad sandwich you can easily make your own, in your home.

I love being able to save money!

Frankly, even though I enjoy going out and having someone else make my food, there is something to be said for making it yourself.

Especially for me when it comes to classic tuna salad or making a Subway tuna salad recipe.

I want to be able to control all of the ingredients I put inside my tuna salad recipe. I never ask for as much as I want at Subway's and I'm not sure why.

Oh yes I am. I don't want to appear to be a greedy glutton!

Terrible but true.

I can't believe after all of these years that is still the way I would feel.

I guess I'm going to have to go in and order the best sandwich at Subway. Their classic footlong tuna salad!

As you might expect, I'm going to ask for my tuna sandwich precisely how I enjoy it. I have to stop feeling this way and I'm just going to have to go do it.

Sometimes this blog is like therapy!

Subway Tuna Salad Recipe

For those of you that are curious how I enjoy my ultimate Subway tuna sandwich, I'm going to tell you.

I order my Subway tuna with extra cheese, cheddar or Monterey cheddar to be exact. I LOVE extra cheese on everything and tuna salad is no exception!

Lots of cucumbers, onions and peppers and I mean LOTS. An obscene amount. On top and underneath the tuna salad.

The people behind the counter always look at me like I am nuts but I enjoy every bite.

That is why I get uncomfortable ordering it exactly as I like it. Crazy isn't it?

Now, I am actually excited to visit Subway just to get over feeling this way and I'll get to enjoy my tuna sandwich too!

WIN. WIN.

Now back to our Subway tuna salad recipe!

When I am home, I always pack my subway tuna recipe with a ton of "stuff."

I have chopped up a large pile of sweet pickles and just included them in my Subway tuna salad!

Yes, you heard, or should I say read me right!

Tuna, mayo, lemon juice, salt, pepper and lots of chopped sweet pickles.

Nothing more. So good.

My husband and son don't enjoy it that way at all but if I'm making it for me, that is how I do it for myself.

You see you can always do anything when you make your own version at home.

I think our versions are always better than the original because we have total control of how much mayo we use. We have control of everything.

Just the way I prefer it and the way you likely prefer it too!

I hope you will take a moment to let me know what your homemade Subway tuna salad recipe looks and tastes like.

I'm always curious what other people include in their tuna salad!

How to Make a Subway Bun

If you're looking to learn How to Make Subway Bread at Home I urge you to have a look at their recipe.

When I'm in the mood for a real, totally homemade Subway tuna submarine bun, instead of bread or a different kind of bun, this is the recipe I always use.

Making these buns is definitely worth the effort or special occasion.

Once you try it. You will too.

Classic Tuna Salad Recipe

To me, classic tuna salad has to include tuna, mayo, celery, onions, salt and pepper. Our basic version includes all of it with so many options for you to pick from.

What Are Some Subway Tuna Salad Ideas?

Truth be told, there is no right way to make tuna salad. You need to include anything and everything you want in your Subway tuna salad recipe! Really.

You are only limited by your imagination!

Here are some other suggestions you might want to consider when making your version of Subway tuna salad.

• Peas, either fresh or frozen, add color and crunch.
• Celery rib or ribs, diced, add crunch.
• Cucumber, diced or sliced on top of or underneath the tuna.
• Eggs, hard boiled and chopped, add a little extra protein and texture.
• Pickles, sweet, dill or mustard pickles (my husbands favorite), chopped fine, add some crunch and a lot of flavor.  Relish also works well in a pinch!
• Apples, sweet or tart, diced, is delicious in a tuna salad.
• Tomatoes diced, without the pulp, add color and flavor to an otherwise boring tuna salad! You can also place tomato slices on top of the egg salad when serving.
• Alfalfa sprouts are so tasty on top of your tuna salad sandwich!
• Cooked pasta is also a delightful change. Your tuna salad becomes a tuna pasta salad. What a terrific side dish!

Healthy Tuna Salad Recipe

To make tuna salad healthier, but still tasty, use less mayo or a combination of mayo and Greek yogurt or just use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise altogether.

I always add some mayo or salad dressing to my Greek yogurt. I just have to add some.

You can also use a light cucumber dressing, coleslaw dressing, creamy greek, ranch dressing or caesar salad dressing with less mayo and Greek yogurt. Taste your mixture to see what your taste buds want most!

I'm strongly suggesting you try to add some low calorie dressing to some Greek yogurt and perhaps a small amount of mayo. You have to check out the taste.

Hopefully you will be as pleasantly surprised as I was when I tried it the first time.

Add everything else you want to include and you will be happy with the lower calorie and healthier result!

How to Make a Subway Tuna Melt

You can easily adjust this recipe to make your own imitation Subway tuna melt by adding these steps to the recipe.

• Butter bread and broil until golden brown, between two and three minutes
• Flip bread and broil the other side until toasted, an additional two to three minutes
• Spread tuna salad on to bread and then spread cheese over each sandwich
• Place sandwiches under the broiler and broil until the cheese is melted and bubbling, between five and six minutes

Enjoy your copycat Subway tuna melt!

What are some healthy ways to eat Tuna Salad?

I definitely don't eat as much bread as I used to. If you would still like to enjoy some tuna without bread I have a couple suggestions below.

1. We regularly scrape out the inside of a tomato, fill it with tuna salad and serve it cold. Your other option is to try our Tomato Tuna or Crab Melts. Both are delicious in their own right!
2. On top of a salad filled with greens and your favorite vegetables.
3. Wrap the tuna salad up in your favorite tortilla or use lettuce or even kale! Different and delicious!

Egg and Chicken Salad Options

If you also love egg salad you will have to check out Our Favorite Egg Salad or chicken salad, our Easy Chicken Salad Snack Wraps. With or without the tortilla wraps, this chicken salad is hands down, the best we have ever had!

Our super easy recipe for Slow Cooker Chicken Salad is just as amazing. I can't wait to hear what you think!

Lastly, I love our Tuna Egg Salad Roll Ups which are a fabulous appetizer, lunch or snack! Egg and tuna salad blend perfectly together and the taste is just fabulous and should be tried by all! At least once!

Tuna Salad Ingredients

Ingredients In Subway Tuna Salad

• tuna
• mayo

Add to reduce "fishy" smell and taste

• lemon juice

Our Additions

• salt
• pepper
• celery
• green onion
• garlic
• dijon mustard
• sweet pickles, pickle relish or dill

Options

• tomato
• peppers
• lettuce
• bean sprouts
• hard boiled egg slices

How to make Subway Tuna

Press the cut tuna lid carefully, so you don't hurt yourself, into the tuna, while you are holding it over the sink to drain the liquid away. Your other option is to use a paper towel and squeeze out the liquid from the tuna.

Myself, I always tend to roll the dice by pressing in the lid and squeezing out all of the liquid.

In a medium sized bowl, combine tuna, celery, onion and garlic.

Next, add pickles, relish or dill.

Last, add mayo, lemon juice, salt and pepper.

Stir until blended together and combined.

Our Favorite Tuna Salad tastes even better if you let it chill for a couple hours in your fridge, even though I usually don't plan well enough to do that! 

This tuna salad can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to two days. Now that you know how to make Subway tuna salad recipe I believe it will be your favorite tuna salad too!  Perfect for any occasion or no occasion at all!

Any excuse will do!

How to make a Tuna Sandwich

Once you have made your tuna salad, spread it in a thick layer on bread, buns or rolls, crackers or rolled into a tortilla wrap.  Top with lettuce, tomato, bean sprouts, hard boiled egg slices, or sliced pickles.  Anything your heart desires!

How Long Does Tuna Salad last?

If our Best Classic Tuna Salad is properly stored, in an airtight container, your tuna salad will last for up to three days in the refrigerator.

What kind of Tuna do I use for Classic Tuna Salad Recipe?

I prefer to use tuna packed in water. It is generally healthier than tuna packed in oil. If all you have is tuna packed in oil just make sure to squeeze as much liquid out of the tuna as possible.

Some suggest rinsing the tuna with water and pressing it with your tuna lid to remove as much oil as possible.

More Easy Lunches To Try

Cheesy Honey Mustard Turkey Roll Ups

Cheesy Chicken Bacon Ranch Pinwheels

Easy Baked Ham and Cheese Pinwheels

Easy Crispy Chicken Salsa Wraps

Slow Cooker Chicken Salad

Easy Smoked Salmon Tortilla Roll Ups

Cheesy Ham Roll Ups

Thai Style Tuna Wrap

Subway Classic Tuna Salad Recipe Video